Fluid driven energy generator

ABSTRACT

The present invention may be used for converting fluid flow into an alternate energy form. A generally cylindrical enclosure may have a side wall with a plurality of slots longitudinally formed therein and with two opposed ends. Two drive members of a shaft may be spaced apart, positioned longitudinally on a centerline, and rotatably attached each to one of the two opposed ends. Each of the two drive members at an interior end may have an orthogonal member attached and a paddle shaft may be attached at a leverage end of the orthogonal members. Multiple paddles may be circumferentially spaced and radially attached at a first edge to rotate on the paddle shaft with an outer edge disposed to allow extension and retraction through one of the slots.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to apparatus for generating energy from wind andwater flow. The new generator may have a generally cylindrical enclosurewith a paddle shaft rotatably positioned therein to alternately extendand retract paddles through slots in the enclosure wall.

Various wind and water flow driven energy generating devices andapparatus may be known. Such apparatus may involve a paddle wheelrotatably mounted on a shaft and structure. The paddle wheel may or maynot be mounted in an enclosure. Those apparatus that include anenclosure may have an opening or duct that may allow fluid flow toimpact paddles or blades to rotate the paddle wheel to power a coupledpower generating device, such as an electric generator. The enclosuremay be designed to have an opening in a wall to allow flow into theenclosure and against the paddles during only a portion of the paddlewheel rotation. Alternative paddle wheels may have paddles rotatablyattached on circumferentially space frames such that the paddles rotateagainst the frames to cause rotation of the paddle wheel in onedirection and rotate away from the frames to float in the fluid flow tonot create drag or oppose the rotation of the paddle wheel in thedesired direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to apparatus for converting fluid flowinto an alternate energy form. A generally cylindrical enclosure mayhave a side wall with a plurality of slots longitudinally formed thereinand with two opposed ends. Two drive members of a shaft may be spacedapart, positioned longitudinally on a centerline, and rotatably attachedeach to one of the two opposed ends. Each of the two drive members at aninterior end may have an orthogonal member attached and a paddle shaftmay be attached at a leverage end of the orthogonal members. Multiplepaddles may be circumferentially spaced and radially attached at a firstedge to rotate on the paddle shaft with an outer edge disposed to allowextension and retraction through one of the slots.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a fluid driven energy generatoraccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective partial cutaway view of a fluid drivenenergy generator according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a paddle shaft with paddlebearings according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an end view of a paddle with thrust shaft accordingto an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an end view of a paddle with thrust shaft and bracketarms according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a side elevation view of a fluid energy drivegenerator with the cylindrical enclosure cut away and only two opposedpaddles according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates an end cross-sectional view of a fluid energy drivegenerator according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description represents the best currentlycontemplated modes for carrying out the invention. The description isnot to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purposeof illustrating the general principles of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, a fluid driven energy generator 10 mayhave a generally closed cylindrical enclosure 12 or drum rotatablyattached to a shaft 20 along a longitudinal centerline 50 of theenclosure 12. The shaft 20 may have two drive members 22 that are spacedapart along the centerline 50 with each one inserted through androtatably attached to one of the opposed enclosure ends 16 of theenclosure 12. At an interior end 24 of each drive member 22 anorthogonal member 26 may be attached and a paddle shaft 28 may beattached at each end 30 to a leverage end 32 of each orthogonal member26.

A plurality of circumferentially spaced paddles 40 may be rotatablyattached at a first edge 42 to the paddle shaft 28. The paddles 40 mayextend radially outwardly from the paddle shaft 28 with an outer edge 44positioned to be extended and retracted through a plurality of slots 18formed in the wall 14 of the enclosure 12. The orthogonal members 26offset the paddle shaft 28 from the centerline 50 such that as thepaddle shaft 28 and paddles 40 rotate with the enclosure 12 the paddles40 may extend outwardly of the slots 18 as the enclosure wall 14 rotatesaround a position closest to the paddle shaft 28 and the paddles 40 mayretract into the enclosure 12 when the wall 14 may be adjacent to theposition furthest from the paddle shaft 28.

As the enclosure 12 and paddles 40 rotate, the paddles 40 will vary inextended and retracted positions because of the orthogonal members 26offsetting lever arm effect relative to the enclosure 12 rotationalcenterline 50. The enclosure 12 may be positioned in a fluid flow streamwith the orthogonal members 26 perpendicular to the flow direction.Further the orthogonal members 26 may be oriented to extend the paddles40 outwardly a maximum distance when orthogonal to the direction of flowfor a desired rotational direction of the generator 10 and to be fullyretracted when orthogonal to the direction of flow that would causegenerator 10 rotation opposite the desired direction. This may allowmaximum fluid force for rotation in a desired direction due to paddleexposure to the fluid flow and the increase in lever arm effect causedby the orthogonal members 26. The amount of time the paddles 40 mayextend outwardly of the wall 14 may be established by the distance ofthe paddles 40 from the paddle shaft 28 to the outer edge 44.

The paddles 40 may be rotatably attached to the paddle shaft 28 bypaddle bearing sleeves 46 that may be attached to paddle projectingelements 48 attached to the first edge 42 of each paddle 40. The paddleprojecting elements 48 may be aligned in a serial manner with the paddlebearing sleeves 46 along the paddle shaft 28, as best viewed in FIGS. 2and 6, to avoid interference between the paddle projecting elements 48.As an alternative the paddle shaft 28 may be rotatably attached to theorthogonal members 26 and the first edge 42 may be directly attached tothe paddle shaft 28.

There may be a paddle thrust member 60 attached between the opposedenclosure ends 16 adjacent to each of the slots 18. The thrust member 60may have the form of a generally closed cylinder with two opposed slots64 formed in the wall 62 of the thrust member 60. The slots 64 may besized to allow a paddle 40 to slide therethrough with a small spacebetween the paddle 40 and the edges of the slots 64 openings. The paddlethrust member 60 may be rotatably attached to the enclosure ends 16 byshafts 66 in bearings 68. Rollers 36 may be positioned on each side ofthe paddle 40 in the thrust member 60 that may serve to receive theforce of the fluid flow against the extended paddles 40 to rotate theenclosure 12 and to guide the paddles 40 between the extended andretracted positions.

The paddle thrust member 60 may be attached in the enclosure 12 adjacentthe slots 18, as can be best viewed in FIG. 7. This may cause the wall62 of the thrust member 60 to partially close the opening of the slots18 in the enclosure 12 that must be wide enough for the paddles 40 torotate in and out of the slots 18 as the enclosure 12 and paddles 40rotate. Minimizing the size of the slot 18 openings may improve theefficiency of the generator 10.

The paddle thrust member 60 has been disclosed as having the form of agenerally closed cylinder; however, other forms may be used that as anexample may have a wall 62 that in cross section is only a portion of acircumference of a circle. The thrust member 60 may be a thrust shaft 34attached between the opposed enclosure ends 16 adjacent to each of theslots 18. The thrust shaft 34 may have a plurality of rollers 36 thatmay serve to receive the force of the fluid flow against the extendedpaddles to rotate the enclosure 12 and to guide the paddles 40 betweenthe extended and retracted positions. The thrust shaft 34 may havebracket arms 38 attached to position rollers 36 on the opposite side ofthe paddles 40 relative to the thrust shaft 34 to aid in guiding themovement of the paddles 40. A curved wall 70 may be attached to thethrust shaft 34 and the shafts 66, and may be positioned to be adjacentto the slots 18.

The paddles 40 may be formed of a rigid material structure to allowradial motion for extension and retraction through slots 18 and tocapture fluid flow thrust force. The paddles 40 may have a flat orstraight form, or a concave form oriented to capture fluid moreeffectively while extended into the fluid flow stream. The generator 10may be positioned in the fluid flow path of a venturi channel. Theenclosure 12 may be coupled to a generator 52, for example, an electricgenerator, to rotate the generator 52 to produce power, such aselectrical power.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withrespect to the illustrated embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in formand details may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

1. An apparatus for converting fluid flow into an alternate energy formcomprising: a generally cylindrical enclosure that has a side wall witha plurality of slots longitudinally formed therein and with two opposedends; two drive members of a shaft are spaced apart, positionedlongitudinally on a centerline of said enclosure, and rotatably attachedeach to one of said two opposed ends; each of said two drive members atan interior end has an orthogonal member attached with each of saidorthogonal members approximately parallel; a paddle shaft is attached ateach end to each of said orthogonal members at a leverage end; aplurality of paddles circumferentially spaced and radially attached at afirst edge to rotate on said paddle shaft with an outer edge disposed toallow extension and retraction through one of said slots; and a paddlethrust member that has a curved wall with a paddle slot therein and aplurality of rollers disposed on a thrust shaft is disposed adjacenteach of said slots of said cylindrical enclosure, and said paddle thrustmember is rotatably attached at each end of said thrust shaft to each ofsaid opposed ends interior to said enclosure.
 2. The apparatus as inclaim 1 wherein said enclosure has a polygonal cross-sectional wall. 3.The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said enclosure has a circularcross-sectional wall.
 4. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein saidplurality of slots are parallel to said centerline.
 5. The apparatus asin claim 1 wherein: said curved wall is generally the form of a tubewith closed ends; said tube has two opposed paddle slots longitudinaldisposed therein; said thrust shaft is a two member shaft with each ofsaid members attached to one of said closed ends of said tube; and saidplurality of rollers are attached to said curved wall interior to saidtube.
 6. The apparatus as in claim 5 wherein a bracket arm is attachedto said thrust shaft disposed to position a roller adjacent one of saidpaddles on a side opposite said thrust shaft.
 7. The apparatus as inclaim 1 wherein said plurality of paddles is attached to said paddleshaft with at least two paddle projecting elements on said first edge ofeach of said plurality of paddles attached to at least two paddlebearing sleeves rotatably disposed on said paddle shaft.
 8. Theapparatus as in claim 7 wherein said paddle bearing sleeves are disposedserially on said paddle shaft and said at least two paddle projectingelements for each of said paddles are disposed for attachment to saidpaddle bearing sleeves to avoid interference between adjacent paddles.9. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said paddle shaft is rotatablyattached to said orthogonal members and said plurality of paddles areattached at said first edge to said paddle shaft.
 10. The apparatus asin claim 1 wherein an electric generator is coupled with said enclosure.